Church R Us
Pastor Jim's current series at Eastside is titled "Church R Us." In his blog he writes, "I don't think of the church primarily as a group but as individuals. How do you feel about this paradigm of 'church'? If the church is people and not groups, places, things or programs...what are the implications to each one of us personally?" My first thought is that I don't think of church as individuals. I think of it as community. Kind of relates to my blog about my not personal relationship with Christ. Again that ever so familiar verse comes to mind in which God sent His son to save the world, not the individual. He saves us induvidually so I don't know if I'm just talking about semantics or if there is a different practicality that comes from community vs individual thinking. The church of Acts sure is community minded yet the community didn't seem to overlook any 'one' in need.I would ask, "If the church is community and not groups, places, things or programs...what are the implications?" In my thinking I believe that the church is most expressive, loving, Christ-like, and effective when living in community. Individuals were added to their numbers daily but their strenth was in their community with each other and with God.
I know it's possible that I only actually have a few ideas (that I got from other people) and community is one and so every topic relates back to it. And so I write about it again and again. But I believe Church R Us is more appropriate that Church R Me. I'm only a part of the body of Christ, and a small part at that. I am in awe when I see glimpses of what God does when the whole body moves.
Practically, I believe this community lived out breaks down walls of ethnicity, style, economic status, age, denomination, maturity, and culture. This community reaches out in love to the unloved and even the unloving. This community is more concerned about others than it is for itself. This community is loving, accepting and forgiving. The personal implication is the fact that this community is comprised of and subject to every individual decision and action.
Those are some initial thoughts on the paradigm of church Pastor Jim is teaching about. I really like this series so I'll probably have some more to write about he continues.
posted by Tim Oas @ 12:26 AM
1 Comments:
And yet another comment......
I agree with you Tim. I believe that church is the community of believers serving each other and meeting each other's needs. A sense of community permeates throughout the New Testament and I think Church and as well as an individual's relationship with Christ is only experienced to the fullest in the context of community.
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